I still have some of the greatest memories of the time I spent with my father in Peshawar, Karachi and Lahore, says actor Shahrukh Khan. PHOTO: AFP
NEW DELHI: Having fond memories of visiting Peshawar as a teenager with his father, Shahrukh Khan harbours a hope to take his three children to visit his family's hometown, and hopes ties between India and Pakistan become "friendlier" and "family-like".
The Hindi film superstar spoke fondly of Peshawar when Pakistan's former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar asked him about visiting her country, at India Today Group's Agenda Aaj Tak Conclave here Wednesday.
"I'd love to! My family is from Peshawar and few of them still live there. I would love to come to Peshawar and bring my children over because my father took me when I was 15 or 16. I still have some of the greatest memories of the time I spent with my father in Peshawar, Karachi and Lahore. I want to take my kids there," said Shahrukh.
The 47-year-old was born in Delhi, but his late father, Taj Mohammad Khan, came from Peshawar. He was a freedom fighter.
Shahrukh, who is married to Punjabi girl Gauri, has three children - Aryan, Suhana and AbRam. AbRam is their baby through surrogacy.
Shahrukh hopes that the two countries forget their differences and join forces to have "the greatest of things possible for each other".
"I hope with whatever issues and stresses we have... I hope we become friends, we become friendlier, we become like a family and one together," he said, adding how he learnt the true essence "mehmaan-nawaazi" during his last visit to Pakistan.
The actor believes the people of both nations harbour no ill-will for each other.
"When I travel abroad, I notice it even more, because sitting in your nation you can't make out. But when I go to London, Dubai or US, you don't even get to know who is from where - there's no cultural difference. I think people should forget (the past) and continue to be what we used to be," he added.
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Guys!!!!!!!!!! Relax!!!!!!!! He is just an actor not any super hero or god... Man.. this is crazy.
I really appreciate what SK said but if their was no cultural difference between both countries ,then what was the point of seperation?
Why Pakistan was created? I have lived abroad most of my life , I can see difference between many indians and pakistanis, yes, their are some similiarities but still their is difference.
Do people in India speak farsi(Persian)? In balochistan, their are some people who speak persian. Our national anthem is in persian and urdu is our national language.
Their are many types of food in India which is not even known in Pakistan. Do people in Pakistan even know what is Idli Dosa or "Masala dosa"?
Many Pakistani-born Indian artists have toured to Pakistan in the past and SRK's tour to Pakistan is not new because touring to the ancestor countries is every ones basic right......
Imagine if SRK's father had not migrated to Mumbai +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ SRK could have visited Mumbai with Ajmal Kasab.
@Bharat: "I would be happy to visit Pakistan too !" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pls take a large Insurance Policy and bid farewell to all near dear ones before you visit.
@Ali S: I guess then you should also give up Dilip Kumar, Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Salman Khan etc (almost all the Khan’s have roots in the northwest areas of Pakistan)"" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ All these guys will soon be driving Nato trucks cause there is no film industry in Pakistan.
Some movie of Shahrukh is going to release I guess ? These film stars....If you want to visit Pakistan go and visit , why give some people chance to make issue out of it by giving statements and then retracting later on like did before...
Stupid chest thumping right-wing mindsets all up in this thread. Let go of your worthless national, racial and religious pride. We are all humans. We all matter. Well being for ALL.
@Zara: Their is a difference of being from Pakistan and from pre-partition India. All those born before 14th August, 1947 were Indians, so technically SRK's father was not from Pakistan, but from a region that is now Pakistan. So when SRK's father moved to Delhi, he left one part of India and settled in another. You cannot revise historical facts and someone's nationality to suite your current aims.
@Ahmed Malik: people are really explaining here that indian media and people are very fanatic but let me tell you one thing that people always love to get victim status so as celebrities. Why shahrukh khan always raise his minority status when he is in trouble. why salman khan raise his concern when he gets arrested in killing of innocent people while driving crazy. Does no one take notice of it in intellectual pakistan. None of these khan stars talk like that when their movies do good and got lot of love from people of India. after all who made them star? I know how difficult it would be to digest that fact for the people of pakistan who still believe strongly in two nation theory. concept of introspection is completely missing in pakistan. you were and you will always remain in state of denial. your so called objective media bashes 'hindus' openly on your national TV, broadcast conversion to islam on national TV still you guys are best. Could any of you tell me, if that would have happened on national TV in india for a muslim then what would have been your reaction? you guys always portray Muslims as victims be it in india, China, US, UK, Myanmar or any part of world, like all Muslims are angels and others are there to persecute them but on the contrary they do completely opposite when they are in majority. what an irony? Only time can tell who was right and who was wrong i hope in 65 years pakistan now knows better which country is on right track?
@ I hope this time ET won't block my comment
Calm down. Shahrukh is our Indian film star.The people of india has made him a star. He is loved by all and that includes those people who don't use internet like us and they are in millions. So please respect our stars and don't act like fanatical Nazi of hitler. Talk sense, fellow indians. Learn history from a neutral third party and don't follow the rss blindfold whose ideology will destroy india. Rab rakha
5,000 Pakistani, Indian children to interact through letters http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-218380-5000-Pakistani-Indian-children-to-interact-through-letters
Reading the comments here one realizes that there are very few Indians without hate in their hearts. I too want to visit India one day and see the places where my grandparents lived etc but I really don't wish to meet any hate filled trolls.
@Raj - USA: 1. Pakistan welcomes only muslims 2. Firoz Khan got visibly angry, I think Firoz Khan even walked out of the TV show
Without going into the verity of the claim, can you see the contradiction in your own statement?
@Raj - USA: The actor was not Shilpa but Manisha Koirala, technically a Nepali. And the roaring drunk Feroze made an utter fool of himself on stage in public, embarrassing his family no end & causing huge loss to his brother.. There is nothing patriotic about drunken warbling. He got away with a ban. If a Pakistani actor had behaved like him in Bombay calling names to India & hinduism Shiv Sena would have tarred & feathered him.
@ nithinreddy share the same wish, one day to visit india and meet people there. India is like a forbidden fruit for a lot of us pakistani's
@Nithin: Could agree more!
@lol: Me too was very happy- that you and many were born in Pakistan! And we wish that all like you born in India should have been born there!
I am an Indian and for the longest time, I have carried a wish of visiting Pakistan one day. For the other Indians here who are being disrespectful to SRK cause of this statement should be ashamed. I strongly disagree with this hateful mindset towards common pakistani citizens who have nothing to do with their political establishments policies towards India. Lets not paint everyone with the same brush and think rationally guys. Respect to any peace loving Indians and Pakistani's. Enough of this hate.
if any one from Pakistan will ask me 'will you visit my country' naturally i will reply 'yes, why not, if it will be possible' you are believing what rahul as true but if you have chance of meeting him, shake his hand, give a smile and ask him 'will you visit my country' surely he will reply 'yes, why not, if it will be possible'
@Queen: "Contrary to Indian belief, we Pakistanis are friendly people and we welcome everyone who visits our country with a positive mindset be it SRK, Naseeruddin Shah, or even the Indian cricket team."
Wrong. Pakistan welcomes only muslims. Remember the time when Shilpa Shetty visited Pakistan with Feroz Khan and other Bollywood actors? She was abused and taunted so much on live TV show in Pakistan that Firoz Khan got visibly angry and blasted the media right on live TV. Cricket team is different though for different reasons. I think Firoz Khan even walked out of the TV show.
As for SRK, there is nothing wrong in what he said. Everyone, will have fond memories and attachment to their family's hometown.
@jodh singhj: Most wellcome, Layalpur is yours as Jodhpur is mine, we need beautiful minds as your Sardar Ji. Pakistan & India both are realities lets build a better future for generatins to come.
@Alann: ET was discussing the origin of both srk and his wife, not the religion. Wonder why you have to bring religion into everything....
@Nawazish Ali: It's the opposite. There were no secular values in the Muslim League and the Muslim leadership in general and that is what lead to partition. The reason why India is a secular country and Pakistan is an Islamic Republic. Pankaj is right. Because SRK's dad was a secular freedom fighter, he chose India not Pakistan. Nationalistic, freedom fighter,secular Muslims stayed/moved to India including Muslims who were from modern day Pakistan like Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and Qurratulain Hyder who went to Pakistan and then came back.
@harsh: and who are u harshh? lol and what kinda name is harsh anyway..!even hash would have made sense..!
the moment he(if ever) moves back to his pathani land, he will understand what he is because of India. he will be nothing if Indians chose to neglect. this is not chest thumping. but truth. karodon pathan up(ghilzai,yousufzai),bihar,maharashtra me rahte hein. will pakistan take them back also?
Dear me! after reading the comments of Indians I can smell something burning on their side. Is it pride or vanity?? Naughty SK why did you do that to your country men!!
I would be happy to visit Pakistan too !
@Ali S: Yes, please take all of them.
@jodh singhj: Wellcome Always.
@Ali S
I think the Khans' of Bollywood want to associate themselves with Pashtuns of Afghanistan mostly and northwest was Afghanistan not too long ago.
@Pankaj: if there were secular values in India then there would not have been a need to partition India nearly 70 years ago. Be realistic.
@Alann: IANS is an Indian set-up. And an Indian agency assumes some knowledge on the part of the readers that Shah Rukh is a Muslim & Gauri a Hindu name. Since Gauri is rather rare name among Punjabis, it was highlighting the uniqueness.
For all SRK Bashers (my fellow Indians)....Do you see that his father migrated in "reverse" direction? Did you consider why a muslim would want to move to India from Pakistan? Unlike Dilip Kumar, he definitely did not move to India for career prospects but for the love of the secular values which for him India represented. Please think twice before calling SRK and unpatriotic!!!!!!
Slightly off-topic, but I wonder why ET doesn't have guts to write "Hindu girl Gauri" instead of "Panjabi girl Gauri" when referring to SRK's wife.
I am from Peshawar. Shahrukh should visit Peshawar so that he and his family should be taken away by the militants for ransom. when the inhabitants of Peshawar are not safe here who is going to provide him security. If he could not be kidnapped then he would stuck in a government sponsored darna presently in progress at five spots.
@Vikram: And what about the state sponsored Hindu terrorism? Cant you see that? Typical Hindu mentality!
Though I don't support moving any indian citizen to pakistan to settle there but, the most strange part is that many pakistanis here are teaching Indians lessons about communal harmony and equality. This is like 'pot calling the kettle black'.A qaum which is the result of something like ' Two nation theory' is now opposing a transfer of community based on religion.You should at least show some respect to your qaid-e-azam and his vision. Another interesting fact about SRK's visit to pakistan with his father is that his father went there to settle some issues related to his paternal inheritance but as per expectations he was cheated by his pakistani relatives and he came back with empty hands.I think this should have been mentioned in this article.
Wait,why only your kids? Oh, You are doubt that you can't protect if you take your Hindu wife(Gauri) also along with you?
I don't think any of the Indian will be angry if he visits Pakistan. But, this fellow is always gives some statement and wants to be in news. That's all. Everyday we all seeing many famous people visiting without any issues, why this guy always talks without even applying for visa to visit there. Anyway, most of famous Indian Muslim families now have deep relations with Hindus through their marriages and they even started celebrating Hindu festivals. Why can't he simply visit Pak without making this noise. who cares.
Shahrukh dont come here.. nobody is safe here.. plz
Maybe one day the current Indian PM would want to visit his hometown too
The only positive comments I see here are from my beloved Pakistanis. It's such a refreshing thing to see that we have still not snooped down to the level of spewing vermon all the time like some from India.
@lol: pity you & your mindset :) I’m glad i was born in Pakistan! Thank you Allah!
I hope you stay in Pakistani. Too many Pakistanis are involved in Jihad overseas.
hey we pakis watch more bollywood then Indians..we have a similar culture except we are borned arabs and.....
@rahul: SRK has family in Pakistan. Millions of Pakistanis are his fans and watch his movies. He just wants better relations with Pakistan. He is not supporting Pakistani terrorism. Pakistani terrorists treat Indian Hindus and Muslims the same, they want to kill as many as they can. Pakistanis even kill each other all the time.
I wish SRK and his family a safe visit to pakistan and pray that they come back alive. Aameen........
@Zara: Your comment shows the hatred that you guys have for us. Afridi was right about you guys.
You did the same thing as Rahul. You believed "Afridi was right" when he praised Pakistanis. Look at the big picture and see how different sects of Muslims and Muslims / non-Muslims get along with each other in both countries. I don't agree with Rahul's or your comment.
People go to a hindustani news website and see 100% comments by these fanatic fascist hindus spewing most obscene of language against this star and Pakistan and Pakistanis. ET kindly place my comment like ur putting hindustanis' your inspirations' comments
@Ahmed Malik: u gotta visit any of their websites and you'd find that almost everyone would be spewing venom and filth against us and our country still our media and government keep licking hindustanis' feet
@rahul: SRK, son of a freedom fighter who was cousin of Shah Nawaz Khan the man who fought along with Netaji Subhash Bose & went on to become a minister in Nehru's cabinet, had a South Indian Muslim lady as his mother. So, he is half-Peshawari & half-Mangalorean. Before settling in Delhi as a kid SRK was brought up in Mangalore by his maternal grandma & spoke Kannada till age of 5. Per ToI report he talked with fond memories of those days while "Chennai Express" with a Mangalorean heroine was premiered. Should now demented Shiv Sena demand that he must get out of Mumbai & go to live in Mangalore because that is where his mother came from & since Karnataka & Maharashtra have a border-dispute?
The only people who favor people to people contact between the two nations are the Punjabis from either side of the border. As for the rest of the populace, no one really give two hoots about each other and are least concerned about the daily affairs in each country. I know this for a fact as I have first hand accounts in visiting both the countries as a journalist on a half yearly basis.
You guys need to get a grip. It is just one actor with an opinion and you guys get all crazy and angry over it. Please get some order into your lives and relax.
I am pained by sarcastic remarks of indians and pakis. We should be more tolerant. I am a Sikh and was borne In Layalpur Punjab.I very much wish to visit my place of birth although no one knows me there.
You are most welcome: :Love from Pakistan>
Ignore this man's comment . He knows where he has laid his eggs. He can go for a visit for publicity like others, but ultimately he has to come here for his career , because they don't have career in any Islamic republic . All muslim artists did same and he is not an exception. Lack of professionalism in Islamic countries brought them back to land of cultured society.I am surprised to see many are taking SRK's statement seriously.
leave india and stay permanently in pakistan. i will sponsor your tickets.
@rahul: pity you & your mindset :) I'm glad i was born in Pakistan! Thank you Allah!
@rahul: Confused Indian nation will take pride in achievements of peoples like SRK when it needs marks to inflate its minority and human rights index, and at the same time won't waste a moment to throw them in trash once these people stop endorsing its extremist views.
@rahul:
I guess then you should also give up Dilip Kumar, Aamir Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Salman Khan etc (almost all the Khan's have roots in the northwest areas of Pakistan)
Afridi who???? Oh yes that bloke who chewed apple in from of dozens of cameras yeah remember
an actor is successful because of his fans along with talent
@Rahul: Typical Indian attitude!! He is a superstar, he has to maintain his Pakistani fans, and also get more Pakistani fans!! Everyone knows its a PR move!! But your attitude towards a successful Muslim star shows the discrimiantions that Muslims face in India!! You wanted Muslims like him to dress up as Hindu so he can get jobs, change his name so he can get a job, your hatred stems from the name "Khan"!! So, much for the biggest democracy in the world!!
@rahul: What a Kiddo you are! Crying Baby!!
SRK is always welcome to visit Pakistan as a guest. Contrary to Indian belief, we Pakistanis are friendly people and we welcome everyone who visits our country with a positive mindset be it SRK, Naseeruddin Shah, or even the Indian cricket team.
He was hurt when Pakistani players were not allowed in ipl, but was he hurt when barbaric beheading took place on loc??? i don't think so. self-claimed real king(srk) @et publish
Super ! I have never watched any of his movies but I know that he is a great man, because all great people share one thing, openness and vastness of their hearts.
@Rahul Oops ...His father was from Pakistan so whats big in it if he has love for this country. Your comment shows the hatred that you guys have for us. Afridi was right about you guys.
@Rahul He is more than welcome here but you have no right to ask him to leave India. Thanks for letting us know there are people in both countries who like to hate.
SRK !! Please take your kids and settle down in Pakistan. From the begining you always have maintained love for pak.Please help their country.We have enough stars and superstars in India.Frankly we dont need you.You can go back to your roots!!